Fire extinguishing system



Jan. 9, 1951 D. MAPES 2,537,074

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed April 24 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR(OM W ATTO R N EY Jan. 9, 1951 D. MAPES FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM FiledApril 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2/ Z2 27 W H 30 ii I: Q -J INVENTOR 60MW ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 9, 1951 Daniel Manes, West Caldwell, N. 3.,assignor to Specialties Development Corporation, Belleville, N. 1., acorporation oi New Jersey Application April 24, 1946, Serial No.664,655

1 Claim. (Ci. 169-2) i The present invention relates to flre extinguishing systems, and particularly to such systems for selectively directinga fluid pressure fire extin finishing medium to one or more desiredloosone.

The present invention aims to provide a simple compact system of theforegoing type which is particularly adapted for use on airplanes orother craft or vehicles where flre hazards eivist.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide animproved system or the foregoing character which is readily installed.

Another object is to provide a system wherein the necessity fordirection valves and complicated controls is eliminated.

Another object is to provide a system wherein the flre extinguishingmedium storage means and discharge control means therefor are combinedin a compact unit adapted to be actuated locally or remotely with aminimum of auxiliary devices.

A further object consists in the combination and arrangement of elementsoi the system, whereby the foregoing objects and advantages areaccomplished.

Other and further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will beapparent when described in greater detail in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a portion of an airplane, viewed infront elevation, having a flre extinguishing system in accordance withthe invention installed therein.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly inelevation, illustrating the flre extinguishing medium storage unit andthe discharge controls therefor.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of a portion of an airplane, viewed in topplan, having amodifled flre extinguishing system installed therein.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Figure 1,there is shown, by way of. example, an airplane III of the two enginetype to iliusiante an application of the invention wherein a pluraiityoiflrehazards exist. Each engine nacelle it constitutes such a fire hazardand is protected extinguishing medium distributing means for tpplyingthe medium to the seat of the fire and/or establishing an inertatmosphere in the nacelle, thu serving to smother the fire.

The system comprises a flre extinguishing medium storage vessel I:(Figure 2), located in the iuselage or elsewhere, which has a pluralityof it for each outlet, adapted to be opened selectively by means, aboutto be described, under the control of a switch it in an electricalcircuit, including a battery it or the like; and a conduit it connectedto the outlet of each head it, each re-- spectively directing flreextinguishing medium to one nacelle for distribution by a ring it or thelike.

The storage vessel it and its discharge heads it are illustrated indetail in Figure 2, with one of the heads shown in section and the otherin elevation. Only one of these heads will be described in detail, sincethe heads are substantially identi cal in construction.

' The head it, shown in section, has a nipple or spud 20 secured in oneof the outlets of the container by welding. The nipple comprises aninwardly extending flange 2! providing a shoulder 22 for a shatterableclosure disc 2% secured on the shoulder by a screw ring it, and an ont=wardly extending flange 26 for the reception of a screw ring 21 carryinga bonnet at extending over the outlet end of the nipple. The screw ring2? and bonnet 29 are connected by a ring it locked in complementaryrecesses formed in the screw ring and bonnet for permitting cireumierential adjustment oi the bonnet with respect to the outlet.

The bonnet 29 has a laterally extendingoutlet section 35 adapted forconnection to the con duit i7 leading to the nacelle. By reason of theadjustability oi the bonnet the outlet section may extend in any desireddirection. For example, w shown herein, the outlet sections of thebonnete extend in opposite directions and towards their respectivenacelles, thereby simplifying the dis charge conduit connections.

The bonnet further is provided with means for shattering the closuredisc 21 to establish fluid flow communication between the vessel and theconduit ll. These means comprise an electrically fired cartridge 36 fordirecting a slug against the disc to shatter the same. One terminal 01the cartridge is grounded through the bonnet and the other terminal ofthe cartridgeds electrically connected to one terminal of the batteryit, as shown in Figure l. The other terminal of the battery is grounded,where upon closing of the switch it, an electrical circuit is completedthrough the cartridge to actuate the same.

In order to'prevent portions of the shattered disc from entering thedischarge conduit, a sievelike receptacle 40 is positioned in the bonnetbetween closure disc and the outlet section.

outlets: a normally closed discharge control head It In operation. if aflre should occur in one of the nacelles, the respective switch It isclosed to complete the electrical circuit and cause firing oi thecartridge. The cartridge eiieots shattering oi the closure disc 24,whereby iire e medium iiows irom the vessel, through the bonnet and thedischarge conduit to the naeelle to.

be distributed by the ring ll.

. In Figure 3, a system is shown which is essentially the same as thesystem shown in F18- ure 1, except that two vessels each having twooutlets are provided. Both vessels have one oi their outlets connectedto the discharge conduit leading to the other oi the nacelles. Fourswitches II are provided for selectively controlling the discharge oimedium through any one oi the outlets.

In this manner, the system illustrated in Figure 3 may be operated todirect the discharge oi one vessel to one of the nacelles, leaving theother vessel in reserve for further use in connection with either of thenacelles. Also, ii iires should occur simultaneously in both nacelles,one vessel may have its contents directed to one oi the nacelles whilethe other vesel may have its contents directed to the other nacelle.

The systems illustrated and described herein are adapted to be utilizedfor distributing iire extinguishing media such as carbon dioxide, methylbromide, chloro-bromo-derivatives oi hydrocarbons, or halo-derivativesoi hydrocarbon compounds containing fluorine, which may be stored in thevessel under their own vapor pressure or with the addition oi a gashaving a substantial pressure at low temperatures such as encountered athigh altitudes.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the presentinvention provides an improved fire extinguishin system which is simplein design, is economical to manuiacture and is readily installed. Thesystem comprises a minimum at fluid flow connections, conduits, valves;and the like and operation of the system can be eiiected by simpleelectrical circuit. The storage vessels and selective discharge headsare combined in a single 4 hereimwithoutdepartingiromthesviritand scopeoi the invention and without sacrificing any oi its advantages, it is tobe understood that allmatterhereinistobeinterpretedssillustrative andnot in any limiting sense.

I claim:

In a tire extinguishing system, a spherical extinguishing medium storagecontainer having a pair oi independent adiacent downwardly iacingdischarge openings, a pair of outlet sputbeachsecuredinanopeningandextending downwardly in parallelrelation toeach other, said spuds having an outwardly extending flange iormed withscrew threads on the outer peripheral wall thereoi and positionedbetween the ends oi said spuds to provide a downwardly iacing shoulder,a shatterable sealing disc positionedineachoisaidspudaadischargeheadioreach oi said spuds including aone-piece body member iormed with an annular inlet section telescopedover the portion oi said spud below said shoulder and abutting saidshoulder and said body member being iormed with a laterally extendingoutlet section, coupling means including a screw ring threaded on saidflange and telescoped over said annular section and including an annularmember positioned between cooperating annular grooves iormed in saidannular section and said screw ring ior adjustablyconnectingsaidbodymemberstosaidspudswithsaid outlet sections facing inany desired direction to facilitate connection oi discharge conduitsthereto, and a chamber member in each oi said heads ior cartridgesadapted to shatter said discs to eflect discharge oi fire extinguishingmedium from said container.

DANIEL MAPES.

ass-answers cn'an unit thus iacilitating rapid instaliation and makingit possible to replace an entire unit in the field with maximum ease andwithout skilled labor. The system is rugged in construction and canwithstand any rough usage to which it may-be subjected.

. -As various changes may be made in the iorm, construction andarrangements 0! the parts file oi this patent:

uurran s'rs'rss rs'rnm's Number Name Date 2,417,082 Mapes et al. Mar.11, 1947 2,419,826 Dodelin et ai. Apr. 29, 1947 2,425,778 Alien Aug. 19,194! FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 832,094 France June 20, 1988

